Just as she was about to retort, Zhu Xiaomei in front was already calling out the rhythm and starting the stretching.
“Su Yunyi, your posture is wrong!”
“Su Yunyi, can you put more effort into it? Haven’t you eaten?”
“Su Yunyi, you’re too stiff!”
“…”
For the entire morning, Su Yunyi finally felt Zhu Xiaomei’s hostility towards her under Zhu Xiaomei’s constant targeting.
During lunch, people around were covering their mouths and laughing.
“It’s truly satisfying. That Su Yunyi thinks she’s better than us just because Director Zhang praised her. How dare she demonstrate for us. Turns out Xiaomei gave her a good lesson this morning.”
“She’s looking this way, stop talking.”
“What are you afraid of? It’s the truth. If there were to be a demonstration, it should be Xiaomei.”
Su Yunyi didn’t want to cause trouble, but the more she retreated, the more they thought she was easy to bully.
She had been scolded for the entire morning for no reason and was holding back her anger.
Holding her bowl, she walked up to the people who were pointing and talking about her and said loudly, “Comrades, Chairman Mao taught us that criticism should be solemn, sharp, frank, and benevolent, with the purpose of unity. It cannot be condescending, nor can it turn into sarcasm and 打击.”
As soon as she said this, all eyes in the cafeteria turned to her.
The faces of the girls who had been covering their mouths and laughing gradually turned awkward.
Su Yunyi continued with a sincere attitude, “I am indeed a layman when it comes to dancing. If I have done anything wrong, I hope you comrades will point it out to me directly. I will definitely accept it and strive to correct it, and I will never drag everyone down. However, I believe that you comrades discussing me behind my back is detrimental to unity and will not help our Xiangyun Commune achieve good results in this National Day cultural performance.”
Her speech was well-reasoned and her attitude was very humble, causing a stir among the onlookers.
The faces of the few girls turned red.
At this moment, a few crisp claps came from behind, and a pair of large hands grasped Su Yunyi’s hands.
“Little comrade, you spoke very well. I am Yang Shulin, the head of propaganda. I didn’t expect you to be so young yet have such high ideological awareness. Which brigade are you representing?”
“Thank you for your praise, leader. I am Su Yunyi, selected by Dahe Brigade to participate in the National Day cultural performance. I still have many shortcomings and will definitely correct them and ensure I don’t bring shame to the organization.”
Her voice was firm and powerful, leaving a deep impression on the people eating in the commune.
Hearing the man introduce himself, the faces of those few girls turned from red to white, then to green.
They worried that they might be asked which brigade they were from. If they were sent back, it wouldn’t be them who lost face, but the entire brigade, and even their whole families would suffer disdain.
At this moment, they began to regret it. Who knew Su Yunyi’s tongue was so nimble? She would escalate things at the drop of a hat. She didn’t seem like a rural woman at all. With the momentum she had just shown, no one would doubt if she were a commune cadre.
Fortunately, the head of propaganda only criticized them sternly a few times, and they fled the commune cafeteria in disgrace.
As soon as the leader left, Zhou Juanjuan brought the three children over.
They looked at her with admiration.
“Auntie, you were so majestic just now.”
“Yeah, Yunyi, they were talking about you and I was so angry, but I didn’t know how to retort. What you said was so satisfying. You didn’t see, those girls’ legs were trembling when they left just now.”
Thinking that the cafeteria was a place with many people and tongues, even though they spoke softly, it was possible that someone would spread it.
Su Yunyi pursed her lips and smiled, secretly shaking her head, “Everyone is just aiming for a better program effect. Let’s eat quickly and practice well this afternoon.”
Zhou Juanjuan also realized that her words were too blunt.
Receiving Su Yunyi’s hint, the people from Dahe Brigade ate their meals quietly.
Little did they know, sitting at the table behind them was Secretary Ji of the commune.
After hearing what Su Yunyi said, he even looked back at Su Yunyi. This girl was truly cheerful.
After lunch, there were two hours of rest time.
The twins said their father, Accountant Wang, had given them five yuan and sugar coupons to buy fruit candy.
Su Yunyi and Zhou Juanjuan, as the accompanying adults, naturally had to go with them.
However, Su Yunyi had forgotten her water bottle in the assembly hall. She asked Zhou Juanjuan to take the children ahead while she went to get her water bottle and catch up with them.
Su Yunyi got her water bottle and was walking towards the supply and marketing cooperative when she heard the children crying ahead.
It was the sound of ding-ding-dang!
Su Yunyi hurried forward, pushed through the crowd, and only saw the three children crying with snot and tears all over their faces, and Zhou Juanjuan looking helpless and self-reproaching.
“What happened?”
Zhou Juanjuan wiped the sweat from her forehead, “Ding-ding-dang walked fast, in front. I was holding Da Ya behind. Suddenly, several older children ran out of an alley and tried to snatch the five yuan Ding-ding was holding. Ding-ding held on tight, so they only got half of it before leaving.”
“Someone dared to rob on the street? Let’s go to the police station and report them.”
Hearing her say they were going to the police station, Zhou Juanjuan was a hundred times unwilling.
At this time, people’s awareness of protecting their rights was not as strong. Going to the police station was like a lawsuit in the past; they would avoid it if they could.
The surrounding crowd, however, pointed the way for her.
Looking at the twins crying like tears, Su Yunyi took one by each hand and walked towards the police station.
Zhou Juanjuan had no choice but to follow behind them.
When they arrived at the police station, the police officers took the matter seriously after hearing their description.
After all, such a heinous robbery had occurred within their jurisdiction.
They immediately filed a case.
However, the few of them were too scared to remember the appearance of the robbers, only remembering that they were three older children, around ten years old.
This made things difficult. Seeing the police officer’s troubled expression, Su Yunyi could only continue to provide clues: “Comrade, many people saw it just now. Could you please question more witnesses? Perhaps someone can remember.”
After the police recorded their statements, they told them to go home and wait for news.
Looking at the three children holding half of the five yuan and still crying,
Su Yunyi wiped their tears and said, “Let’s go to the bank and ask. If the person only took half, they’ll definitely go to the bank to exchange the money.”
At the bank, they met a kind older sister who looked at their report and the children with swollen eyes from crying.
She had them leave the remaining half of the five yuan there and patted her chest, assuring them, “If anyone comes to exchange the remaining five yuan, we will definitely catch them.”
The few of them thanked the sister and still went to the supply and marketing cooperative.
Su Yunyi bought a bag of fruit candy and distributed it to everyone. Not only the children but also Zhou Juanjuan received a few pieces.
These things were very expensive. Normally, everyone was reluctant to eat them, only buying a little during the New Year to satisfy the children’s cravings.